Baby garment



M. L. NEAL BABY GARMENT Oct. 12, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 15, 1946 FIG. 7 25b 400 40c 40 FIG. 4

'IIIII INVENTOR MARY LUOILE NEAL ATTORNEY M. L. NEAL BABY GARMENT FiledJuly 15, I946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. /4

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INVENTOR MARY 'LUG/LE NEAL FIG. /3

ATTORNEY Patented Got. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY GARMENTMary Lucile Neal, Baton Rouge, La.

Application July 15, 1946, Serial No. 683,644

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in baby garments, and moreparticularly to an improved diaper-type garment suitable for use both asa conventional diaper and in a diaper-suspender combination providing ababys summer garment, for example.

In its broad aspects, the invention contemplates and provides animproved diaper-type garment which is designed and constructed for useon babies throughout their normal diaper wearing period. To this end,the improved diaper garment according to the invention is adjustable tobabies of varying sizes and also to babies in the various stages ofgrowth, 1. e. from the infant stage, usually considered as up to sixmonths, through the normal diaper wearing stage, usually up to two yearsof age.

More specifically, the invention contemplates an improved fastening fordiaper-type garments which provides for adjustment both in the girth ofthe garment as well as in the length thereof, 1. e. the distance betweenthe waist-line and crotch. In furtherance of this objective, the cornersof the diaper, which are lapped at the sides as usual, are provided witha plurality of fastener pockets effectivel y arranged in a series ofhorizontal and vertical rows and which are adapted to receive the hookor clip ends of a novel fastener which functions to secure together thelapped ends of the diaper in the desired position of adjustment.

It is a further aim of the invention to provide a diaper-type armentwhich may be worn as a summer garment, for example, particularly bybabies in the latter stages of their diaper wearing period. Accordinglythe invention provides a diaper-suspender combination in which a diapersuspender is provided by two suspender straps of novel construction andwhich are secured at their lower free ends to the diaper proper by thesame fasteners which secure the lapped corners of the diaper. To providefor adjustment of the suspender straps to the height of the baby, theyare provided at their lower ends with a lurality of stepped-heightpockets for receiving a hook or clip of the novel fastener which securesthe diaper corners in their lapped relation aforesaid.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a diaperincorporating a novel construction of pocket for receiving a pad ofabsorbent material, preferably of the readily disposable type. In linewith this objective, the pocket for the disposable pad is secured onlyalong its top and bottom edges to the top and bottom edges of the diaperwhich define the Waist-line thereof,

and is thus of the swing pocket construction,

also be employed for infants up to six months of age for the increasedabsorbent properties imparted by the absorbent pad.

The above and further objects and features of advantage of the inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing use of the improved diaper garment on a'baby ofthe infant class;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the diaper-suspender combination as hereincontemplated, for use on babies in the latter stages of their diaperwearing period, and which may provide a summer garment therefor;

Fig, 3 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the improveddiaper-fastening means according to the invention;

Figs. 4 and 5 are under face and edge views, respectively, of one formof improved diaper fastener accordin to the invention;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the improved diaper andsuspender fastening according to the invention;

Figs. 7 and 8 are under face and edge views of the diaper and suspenderfastener as employed in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an inner view of a pocket-type diaper according to theinvention, showing the improved pocket construction;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating the pocket flap swungto a position intermediate the diaper proper and the absorbent pad;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sections taken, respectively, along lines llll andl2-|'2 of Figs. 9 and 10; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are detail views illustrating bib and suspenderconstruction for use in the diapersuspender combination according to theinvention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, the basic diaper-type garmentaccording to the invention comprises a generally rectangular diaper Inwhich may be made from folded, sheer cotton material which is boundalong all outer edges with a binding edge! I. The diaper is inwardlycurved along its side edges I2 and [3 to provide a relativelynarrow-width crotch portion and its upper edge I4 is slightly curved inupward direction so as to provide comfortable fit in the abdomen portionof the baby wearing the same.

According to the invention, a diaper-type garment as aforesaid isprovided in its corner portions with means for receiving side fastenerseach serving to secure the two corners at one side of the diaper in theusual lapped-over wearing position, and which further permitssubstantial adjustment in the garment, both as to its girth and lengthdimensions. To this end, the diaper is provided at each of its fourcorners with a plurality of rows of pockets which open inwardly or awayfrom the corners and whose mouth-lines extend diagonally across saidcorners. Preferably, the rows of pockets aforesaid are fashioned fromtwo diagonally extending folds of the diaper material which are edge-cutto fit the pattern of the, diaper corners, being secured along theirouter edges by the binding ll. The aforesaid folds are then sewed to thediaper proper by spaced lines of stitching I8 and H! which extendcrosswise of the folds, so as to form at least two pockets (a, b and c,d) in each pocket row. In the illustrated construction, two diagonalrows of pockets are shown, as results from two folds of the diapermaterial at the corners thereof, of

. which one row (a, b) is close to the diaper corner and the second row(0, d) is spaced a greater distance from the diaper corner. Moreover,the lines of fold of the material forming the pocket have been shown tobe stitched to the diaper proper by two rows of stitching 20, 2iextending from one side edge of the diaper corner inwardly to one lineof crosswise stitching IS, with the result that only two pockets areprovided in each row thereof. However, it will be understood that thelines of stitching 20, 21 may be omitted to provide a third pocket tothe rows thereof, and generallythat the illustrated arrangement may bevaried both asto the number of diagonal rows of pockets and as to thenumber of pockets provided in each of the rows thereof as well.Preferably, the open mouths of the pockets are button-hole stitched asat 23 to provide the necessary edge reinforcement of the pockets.

In use, the diaper is applied in the convent'iohal manner as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the pocketed corners thereof being lapped over at thesides as usual. Due to the initial diagonal disposition of the rows ofcorner pockets, the pocket rows are now vertically disposed (Figs. 3 and6), and the pockets of the lapped corners are in effect arranged invertical and horizontal series as well as being oppositely disposed. Tosecure the overlapped ends of the diaper, the invention provides a clipor hook-type fastener, one form of which is shown in Figs/4 and 5. Sucha fastener. comprises an elongate body portion 25 having its ends bentunder so as to provideintegral, inwardly directed hooks orclips 25a,25b, the ends of which extend beneath the fastenerbody portion and aresomewhat spaced therefrom as shown in Fig. 5. To facilitate insertion ofthe fastener hooks intothe corner pockets, their corners may be and arepreferably gently rounded as shown. A fastener as described may befashioned from lightweight metal coated with a white plastic to insurenon-irritation and proof against rusting, or the fasteners may be made,complete from a suitable plastic material.

Upon the diaper being applied as in Fig; 1,

v for exam le, the same may be secured at the sides of the infant byapplying the fastener 25 v in such manner that the hook or clip ends25a,

b, thereof hook over the edges of the mouths of two selected oppositelyopening pockets of the vertical and horizontal series thereof, dependingupon the size of the baby. For example, the hook ends of the fastenerare shown in Fig. 3 to be hooked over the adges of the oppositelydisposed pockets a and a. However for a baby of lesser girth, thefastener could be engaged in pockets 0 and c, and for shorter babies,whose length between waist-line and crotch is relatively short, thefastener could be engaged with pockets b, b or d, (2, depending uponthe'babys girth. From the above, it will be observed that a diaperprovided with the improved fastening means according to the inventionmay be used on infants of varying sizes, and through proper adjustmentcan also be used on older babies for their normal diaper wearing period.

A diaper as aforesaid may also be incorporated into the diaper-suspendercombination as illustrated in Fig. 2, which'employs the same basicdiaper garment as described. Associated with the diaper is a suspenderdesigned to hold the diaper comfortably and safely in place, and able tosecure a bib in place buttoned to the shoulder portions of thesuspender.

As best seen in Fig. '14, the suspender attachment is provided by twosuspender, straps 35, 3| secured together at the front by a transversechest strap 32, and at the rear by a back strap 33. Preferably, the backstrap is secured at one end to suspender strap 38, its other end beingleft free and being detachably secured .to the suspender strap 3! as bya button 34 adapted to be engaged in a button-hole 35 provided in thesuspender strap 3!, generally as shown.

The suspender straps are fashioned from a suitable fabric material suchas sheer cotton, which is formed as double folds with the raw edgesinverted and stitched for finishing. At their lower'ends, the suspenderstraps are provided with pockets of stepped height, of which three suchpockets e, f and 9 have been illustrated. The pockets are preferablyformed by bringing the free ends of the suspender straps together inpartially overlapped relation as shown and thereupon forming threespaced folds in the overlapped ends. The'folds are stitched down fromthe edges inwardly by three lines of stitching 31, 38, which areinterrupted in the mid portion of each fold so as to provide theupwardly opening pockets as shown. As with the pockets formed in thecortiers of the diaper, the pockets along their open or mouth edges arebutton-hole stitched as at 39 for reinforcement. 7

The provision of the suspender pockets as afore-' said permits thesuspender straps to be secured to the diaper proper by the samefasteners which secure the diaper corners, and which is preferably athree-hook fastener of the type shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Such afastenercomprises a body portion 49 formed by a generally horizontal leg and anintermediate upright leg, the free ends of which are bent under toprovide hooks Ma, 4917, 480, similar to the above described hooks 25a,25b. The oppositely disposed hooks 45a, .481) function position,asdescribed, the third hook 450, which is vertically disposed, beingadapted tobe slipped into one of the suspender pockets e, f aud 9!,

depending on the height of the baby,. in the manner indicated in' Figs.2 and 6. It will be observed that the invention provides a simple,unitary and easily applied means both for fastening diaper corners andthe free ends of a suspender, and there results a diaper-suspendercombination which may be used as a childs summer garment, for example,in place of the conventional rompers or sun-suit.

According to the invention, the diaper suspendor described may also beemployed to secure a bib in place. Referring to Fig. 13, a bib 44 ofmore or less conventional construction and shape is shown to be providedin its two shoulder portions with button holes 45a, 45b. As shown inFig. 14, the suspender strap in their shoulder portions are eachprovided with buttons 46a, 4%, providing for attachment of the bib, asshown in Fig. 2.

According to a further feature of the invention, the basic diaper-typegarment as described may be provided with an inside pocket for receivingand mounting a pad of absorbent material,

preferably of a disposable nature. Such a pocketed diaper is shown inFigs. 9 and 10, wherein an inside pocket 58 extends lengthwise of thediaper and is fashioned from a single piece of material of the fulllength of the diaper and which is fold" ed along two lengthwise lines offold to provide three plies 50a, 50b, 500, of which the ply 590 mayconstitute a fly or flap. The pocket is secured to the diaper only alongits upper and lower edges as by securing the pocket plies 50a, 502) thetop and bottom by the edge binding I3. This arrangement results in aswing-pocket construction and moreover leaves the flap 500 free so thatit may be swung either to a pocket-closing position as illustrated inFig. 11 or to a position intermediate the pocket and diaper as indicatedin Fig. 12. Into the pocket as aforesaid is inserted a disposable pad 52which may have its outer face lined with latex or other moisture-proofmaterial for extra moisture-repellence. Due to the swing mounting ofpocket, i. e. its top and bottom edge connection only to the diaperproper, the pad is enabled to conform itself to the body of the baby.Moreover, the swing construction of the flap 5th permits the same to bedisposed either inwardly of the pad, as shown in Fig. 9, or relativelyoutwardly thereof, in which case it provides an extra layer of materialand hence extra thickness of the diaper outwardly of the disposable pad.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the diaper-typeof garment as herein contemplated achieves the desirable objectives of adiaper which can be adjusted to the size of the baby wearing the same,and hence may be worn throughout its normal diaper wearing period. Thenovel type of diaper fastener as described in conjunction with theadjustable features of the garment is of relatively simple andinexpensive construction, which lends itself to easy application andremoval.

Moreover, the invention provides a basic diaper-type garment lendingitself to use on babies in their early walking stages, i, e. in adiaper-suspender combination for use as a summer garment in place of theconventional rompers or sun-suit, in which case the improved fasteningmeans according to the invention for securing the diaper corners isemployed also to secure the suspender to the diaper proper.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructionwithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper and fasteners forsecuring the diaper in the wearing position, each including oppositelydisposed fastening hooks, the diaper having provisions extendingdiagonally across its related corner portions for receiving thefastening hooks.

2. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper provided in each ofits corner portions with a fastening pocket, and side fasteners eachoperative to secure the two corner portions at each side of the diaperand including oppositely disposed fastening hooks which are adapted tohook on to the edges of the fastening pockets.

3. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper provided in each ofits corner portions With a fastening pocket which opens through theouter face of the diaper and away from the corner whereby the pocketsare oppositely disposed in the wearing position of the diaper, and sidefasteners each operative to secure the two corner portions at each sideof the diaper, including oppositely disposed hooks which are adapted tohook on to the edges of the oppositely disposed fastening pockets.

4. In a baby garment, the combination of a diaper having substantiallyrectangular shape and being provided in each of its corners with afastening pocket, said pockets opening through the outer face of thediaper in a direction away from said corners, whereby said pockets areoppositely disposed in the wearing position of the diaper, and havingtheir mouths disposed on a line extending diagonally across saidcorners, and fasteners each adapted to secure the two corners at oneside of the diaper in the wearing position thereof, and comprising abody member and oppositely disposed end hooks which are adapted to hookover the edges of the mouths of said two oppositely disposed cornerpockets.

5. In an adjustable baby garment, the combination of a diaper havingsubstantially rectangular shape and being provided in each of itscorners with a plurality of fastening pockets arranged in rows whichextend diagonally across the corners, and which open outwardly and awayfrom said corners whereby said'pockets are oppositely disposed in thewearing position of the diaper, and fasteners each adapted to secure thetwo corners at one side of the diaper comprising a body member and twooppositely disposed end hooks which are adapted to hook over the edgesof the mouths of any two oppositely disposed corner pockets of the rowsthereof.

6. A diaper-suspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair ofsuspender straps, and fastening means each having angularly relatedhooks, two of which are operative to secure together the two corners atone side of the diaper in the wearing position thereof and the thirdbeing operative to secure the free end of a suspender strap to thediaper, the diaper corners and the free ends of the suspender strapseach having provision for receiving a fastener hook.

7. A diaper-suspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair ofsuspender straps, and fastening means each having hooks operative tosecure together the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearingposition thereof and to secure the free end of a suspender strap to thediaper, the diaper corner portions and the free ends of the suspenderstraps being provided with hook-receiving pockets. I

8' A diape'nsuspender combination comprising a diaper, a pair ofSuspender straps, and fastening means each having hooks operative tosecure together the two corners at one side of the diaper in the wearingposition thereof and to securerthe free end of a Suspender strap to thediaper, the diaper corner portions and the free ends of the suspenderstraps being each provided with spaced rows of hook-receiving pockets,whereby the diaper and suspender straps are adjustable to the size ofthe baby wearing the same.

9. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabricbody, a pocket provided in each of the corners thereof, said pocketsopening through the front face of the diaper and away from the cornersand being arranged so that their mouths extend diagonally across saidcorners, whereby the pockets in the corners on the same sides of thediaper are oppositely disposed in the wearing position thereof.

10. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabricbody provided in each of its corner portions with a plurality of pocketsarranged in rows extending diagonally across the corners and which openthrough the front face of the diaper and away from the corners.

11. A diaper-type garment comprising a substantially rectangular fabricbody provided in each of its corner portions with a plurality of pocketsarranged in rows extending diagonally across the corners and which openthrough the front face of the diaper and away from the cornels, saidpockets being provided by folds in the fabric body which are edge-cut tothe pattern-of the diaper and sewed to said body along'its edges andalong at least one line of stitching extending across the folds. V

MARY LUCILE NEAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Streit July 9, 1946

